Field Reports From Officers
Protecting Natural Resources and People Pursuing Outdoor
Recreation

Trapping Regulations Violated -
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In Case You Missed It...

Links to Recent Articles of
Ongoing Interest

Virginia Reports Good
News: No Chronic Wasting Disease Found

Results of
statewide surveillance during 2007-2008 Season

After extensive testing of deer from every county
in the Commonwealth, the Virginia Department of Game
and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) reports that there is
no evidence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in
Virginia's white-tailed deer population. During the
2007-2008 hunting season, 1,140 samples were
collected from free-ranging white-tailed deer
throughout the Commonwealth. In addition to the
samples collected from every county in Virginia, 106
samples were collected from an active surveillance
focus area, which included the portion of Frederick
County closest to the current cases of CWD in West
Virginia.

VDGIF Director Bob Duncan said of the test
results, "This is clearly good news, and we could
not have achieved this without the hard work of our
staff wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Jonathan Sleeman,
field biologists and Conservation Police Officers,
and the cooperation and support of our partners. In
particular, we owe a debt of gratitude to the staff
of the Virginia Department of Transportation for
their assistance with collecting road-killed deer,
and to local meat processors, and above all, to the
hunters who allowed us to test their deer."

The Department will continue its CWD surveillance
during the spring of 2008, due to the detection of a
CWD positive deer near Yellow Spring, West Virginia,
which is approximately 2.5 miles from the Virginia
state line. There will be additional surveillance
efforts in the portion of Frederick County that
borders this area.

Anyone who sees a CWD suspect deer should not
attempt to contact, disturb or kill the animal.
Instead, accurately document the location and
immediately contact VDGIF by calling 1-804-367-1258.
Arrangements will be made to investigate the report.
More information about CWD and the Department's
management actions can be found on the
VDGIF's
CWD Web site.

Conservation police officers with the Virginia
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) are
making arrests after concluding a six-month
undercover investigation into spotlighting deer and
other wildlife crime violations in Page and
Rockingham counties. The investigation stemmed from
numerous calls from the public reporting poaching
activities on both private lands and National forest
lands in the Runkles Gap/Cub Run area along the Page
and Rockingham county line and in the Pitt
Springs/Newport area of Page County. These areas
have experienced significant illegal activity
frustrating local residents and hunters. VDGIF
Director Bob Duncan commented, "We appreciate the
reports we received from the public that lead to
this investigation, and appreciate their patience
while our law enforcement officers worked this
case."

VDGIF conservation police officers using special
operations techniques made numerous arrests in that
area in the past year and the determination was made
to have a VDGIF undercover officer infiltrate an
illegal deer killing ring identified through those
efforts. As the undercover investigation progressed,
many drug violations were also discovered.

According to Colonel Dabney W. Watts, Jr., chief
of VDGIF's Law Enforcement Division, "When enforcing
hunting, fishing and boating laws and regulations,
our conservation police officers at times encounter
drug and alcohol violations and they have the full
police authority to bring charges." The evidence was
presented to the Grand Jury on Monday, March 17,
2008, and on Tuesday the Grand Jury returned true
bills on all charges.

For a list of individuals charged with felonies
and more details,
view the news release on the Department's Web
site.

Opportunities for Conservation Police Officer
Recruits Now Available

Individuals who are interested in a law
enforcement career could easily find themselves
migrating into the field of natural resources where
exciting opportunities await them as conservation
police officers. Once known as Game Wardens, these
public safety professionals dedicate their lives to
the protection of our natural resources by enforcing
laws and regulations that regulate the activities of
sportsmen and women who participate in outdoor
recreation.

Conservation police officers, originally called
game wardens, have been serving in law enforcement
in Virginia since 1903, when the Virginia General
Assembly established a statewide system of game
wardens to enforce wildlife laws. The title "game
warden" was officially changed to "conservation
police officer" by the Virginia General Assembly in
2007.

In today's more urban Virginia, conservation
police officer's work often intersects with
mainstream law enforcement. In the course of
performing duties related to the agency mission --
enforcing wildlife, fisheries and boating laws -
conservation police are now dealing with situations
requiring immediate police intervention, such as
drivers under the influence, reckless drivers, drug
and gang activities, homeland security issues and
frequent assistance to other law enforcement
agencies.

The Shad Are Back

Spring is upon us and the annual run of shad will
soon be in full swing, as they make their way into
our freshwater rivers to spawn. In recent years,
many anglers have been rediscovering these fine
silvery jewels from the sea, as increasing numbers
of hickory and American shad are providing exciting,
spring angling opportunities.
American shad and
hickory shad usually arrive in mid-March in the
Rappahannock and James and the Americans usually
hang around through May. Remember, it is catch and
release only for American shad (check
VDGIF and
VMRC
regulations).

Shad Cam is back up for the season and enthusiasts
can once again enjoy capturing images of American
shad and 20+ other species of riverine fishes as
they pass through the Boshers Dam fishway on the
James River.

The
American Shad Restoration Project is also
underway, to collect American shad eggs and stock
fry, as part of a cooperative effort to replenish
shad stocks in the James and Rappahannock rivers.
The Pamunkey River supplies the broodstock for the
James stockings and the Potomac provides the
broodstock for the Rappahannock stockings. Since
1992 over 98 million shad fry have been stocked in
the upper James and since 2003 over 18 million have
been stocked in the upper Rappahannock.

People and Partners in the News

Volunteers to Clean Up "Bluff" on Appomattox
River March 29

Every year billions of tons of trash find its way
to our rivers, streams and waterways. The
accumulated litter is harmful to all living
organisms, including humans, and lowers property
values. On Saturday, March 29, 2008, you can join
citizens and students to volunteer a few hours of
your time to pick up litter along the Appomattox
River. This Spring Appomattox River Cleanup is
co-sponsored by the Friends of the Lower Appomattox
River (FOLAR), the cities of Hopewell and
Petersburg, the county of Prince George, and Richard
Bland College of the College of William and Mary.
Because of large quantities of litter found at the
bluff, next to the Weston Manor near Hopewell, the
group will focus all of their resources on cleaning
this area from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registration will
be held at Hopewell Marina, Riverside Avenue,
Hopewell starting at 8:30 a.m. For information,
contact Victor at (804) 861-1666 or email:
vliu@cpd.state.va.us.

If you are planning to take a youngster spring
gobbler hunting, there are several events scheduled
to provide a day of training, safety and fun for new
and novice youth hunters. Events are open to any
youth age 16 or younger and adults are encouraged to
attend with their children. Each event includes
activities on safety, logistics, calling and tactics
training. Hands-on demonstrations of turkey calls
and target shooting to pattern shotguns are
available. Lunch is provided, so registration is
requested by calling the listed event coordinator.
This is a great opportunity to train a young hunter
for participation in the special youth spring
gobbler hunt Saturday, April 5, 2008. The training
event sponsors will provide limited opportunities
for guided hunts on April 5. Click here for more
details on the special youth spring gobbler hunt
date.

March 29 - Torsten-Peterson Chapter
of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) is
hosting a JAKES event at the Tarbay Gun Club,
near Parkers Grocery in Prince George County
from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Contact Roy Cox at
(804) 768-0441.

March 29 - The Page Valley
Sportsmen's Club, Inc. and The Skyline Strutters
Chapter of NWTF are sponsoring turkey hunting
training from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Luray.
This event is limited to 35 registered
participants. Contact Art Kasson at
(540)-622-6103 or email:
artkasson@yahoo.com.

March 29 - The Virginia Wildlife
Foundation and the Central Virginia Chapter of
NWTF are sponsoring a Turkey Hunting/Ecology
Workshop from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at
Fulfillment Farms in Albemarle County near
Scottsville. Contact Jenny West at
(757)-566-4000 or email:
jwest@vawildlife.org.

The new Executive Director of VDGIF, Bob Duncan,
met with the Virginia Outdoor Writers Association (VOWA)
at their annual meeting, March 19, 2008, in
Charlottesville. Mr. Duncan reviewed his plans with
the group to provide additional outreach and
communications on agency programs and issues of
interest to a broader constituency. He introduced
members of the communications staff who described
enhancements in both news media and educational
communications including streaming video, added
website links, expansion of feature sections in the
Outdoor Report, and expanded news release
distribution to a variety of media contacts. VDGIF
Board Member Sherry Crumley described the importance
of recent legislation affecting sportsmen, including
the new Apprentice Hunting License.

Youth and Undergraduate Writing Contest
Winners Recognized

The top three winners of the 14th Annual Youth
Writing Contest were recognized and presented with
awards of outdoor gear totaling over $800 during the
Virginia Outdoor Writers Association (VOWA) Annual
Meeting March 19, 2008 in Charlottesville. VOWA
Youth Writing Contest judge Frank Mundy, a
Conservation Police Officer and author of two books,
commented, "This year's entries were some of the
best we have had in several years. The cooperation
of the Virginia Department of Education and local
high school teachers in promoting students to write
articles on "my most memorable outdoor experience,"
provided a great learning opportunity for the
students and a chance for these future writers to
get recognition and mentoring." VOWA is launching a
new program to publish the Top 30 winning articles
during the next year in magazines, newspapers and
numerous outdoor-related publications. The top three
youth winners were all high school students from the
Virginia Beach area. First place went to Micheala
Bryant from Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School,
with her article entitled "Attack of the Does."
Second-place winner was Maya Nedeljkovich, writing
on the "Majesty of Nature," and third place went to
Madison Shaw, for her entry titled "Nature Shock."
Both students are from Ocean Lakes High School.

In the Third Annual Undergraduate Writing
Competition, which awarded monetary prizes, two
Virginia Tech students were winners. Beth Mutchler
received first place for her story, "Keeping It
Wild." Beth is an Outdoor Recreation Major in the
College of Natural Resources. Sarah Keithley, a
graduating senior in the Hotel and Tourism
Management in the Pamplin College of Business, won
second with "For the Love of Running."

Information about these top winning articles and
a list of the Top 30 Winners can be found on the
VOWA Web site after March 30. VOWA represents
professional writers, editors, photographers,
videographers, agency and conservation organization
communicators and outdoor-related businesses.
Information on membership qualifications can be
found on the VOWA Web site at
www.vowa.org or by
contacting president David Coffman at (804)
367-0720, or email:
david.coffman@dgif.virginia.gov.

Kid's Fishing Day Events Provide Family Fun

Each spring, numerous local angling groups
partner with VDGIF to host KID'S FISHING DAY events.
For details
visit our Web site (PDF).

Kids Heritage Trout Day Moved to Rose River in
Madison, April 5

The Rapidan Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Graves
Mountain Lodge and VDGIF will sponsor a Kids Fishing
Day on the Rose River on April 5, 2008 for kids 12
and under, starting at 9:00 a.m. This popular annual
event has been changed this year from the third
Saturday in March to the first Saturday in April to
have a chance at warmer weather, and the location
has been changed from the Robinson River to the Rose
River. For map directions and a complete schedule of
activities, visit
www.gravesmountain.com/kidsday.htm.
Additional information is available from Graves
Mountain lodge at (540) 923-4231 or Trout Unlimited,
Marcia Woolman at (540) 253-5545, Email:
marcia@woolmancane.com.

Jack Randolph River Fest April 5 in Hopewell

The Jack Randolph River Fest and Big Cat Quest
will be held in Hopewell on Saturday, April 5, 2008
from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the City Marina.
There will be fishing and boating-related displays
by numerous vendors and organizations till 4:00 p.m.
The displays then come down at 4:00 p.m. so that the
Cat Quest weigh-in and the band music and fish fry
(pay event) can be started. This event is named for
Jack Randolph, who was a previous Director of VDGIF
and had encouraged Hopewell to host this event to
promote fishing potential in the state. Jack was
also well known for his articles on fishing and the
outdoors and weekly fishing reports in regional
publications. For more information, contact Serita
Jennings at Hopewell Parks and Recreation at
sjennings@hopewellva.gov.

Western Virginia Land Trust Schedules
Landowner Meetings in April-May

The project manager for the Western Virginia Land
Trust, David Perry, has scheduled a series of
workshops in April and May in the western part of
the state to help educate landowners on the benefits
of conservation easements. VDGIF stream restoration
biologist Bill Bennett notes that conservation
easements are an excellent way for landowners to
permanently preserve and protect fish and wildlife
habitat. This project received funding from the
Environmental Protection Agency's Section 319 Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant Program at the
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
(DCR). Numerous partner organizations are supporting
this effort that is part of Governor Kaine's
commitment to preserve an additional 400,000 acres
of land in Virginia with conservation easements
during his term as governor. The events start
Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the
Patrick County Library in Stuart. For the dates and
locations of the upcoming 13 meetings and locations
in April and May, visit
www.westernvirginialandtrust.org. For additional
information, contact David Perry at (540) 985-0000.

WANTED - American Eels from the Roanoke River
Basin

The
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is
cooperating with Dominion (Virginia/North Carolina
Power), the North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission and federal resource agencies in a study
investigating the presence of American eels in the
Roanoke River basin upstream of Roanoke Rapids Lake,
North Carolina. The study is being conducted as part
of a program to restore American eels to the Roanoke
River basin by providing passage upstream of dams
owned and operated by Dominion. Any eels caught by
anglers from the Roanoke (Staunton) River or its
tributary streams (including the Hyco, Pigg and Dan
Rivers), or from Lake Gaston, Kerr Reservoir,
Leesville Reservoir, Smith Mountain Lake or Philpott
Lake are of interest.

If you catch an American eel from the Roanoke
River basin, it would benefit the study if anglers
kept the eel and contacted Bob Graham of Dominion at
(804) 271-5377, or
bob.graham@dom.com. Bob will make arrangements
with you to collect the eel for scientific study. As
soon as possible after catching the eel it should be
bagged and frozen. If facilities are not available
to freeze the eel, it should be kept on ice.
Cooperation in the study will be greatly appreciated
and will benefit efforts to restore American eels to
their historical range.

Hooks & Horns - The Ultimate Hunting Video
Game

Match wits against the king of upland game birds,
the spring gobbler, and test your hunting skills
with the magnificent white-tailed deer. Hooks &
Horns has it all: Stunning graphics, beautiful
scenery, and the realistic depiction of animals. And
for the first time in any hunting video game, sound
recognition technology. That's right, connect a
microphone to your computer and grab your favorite
game calls. Yelp in that old tom or grunt in that
elusive trophy white-tailed deer. Hooks & Horns
creates an exhilarating experience that you will
never forget. The Department encourages everyone who
experiences the fun and excitement of Hooks & Horns
to then move up to the next level. Take a Hunter
Education Course, purchase a hunting license, and
face the ultimate challenge - a hunting adventure in
Virginia's great outdoors.

Be Safe... Have Fun!

Make Your Spring Gobbler Hunt a Safe One!

This edition features numerous workshop
opportunities sponsored by sportsmen's groups in
partnership with VDGIF, encouraging special training
for youth and novice hunters to participate in the
upcoming Spring Gobbler season. To ensure a safe and
enjoyable day afield, VDGIF recommends reviewing the
following guidelines for a safe Spring Gobbler
hunting experience for young and old, novice and
experienced alike:

To ensure a safe and enjoyable day afield, VDGIF
recommends the following guidelines for Spring
Gobbler hunting:

Tie a strip of blaze orange to a nearby tree
to alert others of your presence.

When choosing a calling position, don't hide
so well that you cannot see what is going on
around you. Select a calling position with a
good view of your surroundings and where the sun
does not distort what you are seeing.

Never move, wave or make turkey sounds to
alert another hunter of your presence. Instead,
call out in a loud voice and remain hidden,
until the other hunter acknowledges your
presence.

When you harvest a gobbler, carry it out of
the woods draped in blaze orange. Otherwise,
another hunter might just see the bird and not
you.

Hunters - Did You Remember To...

The following notes are quick reminders of
things you may have overlooked in getting ready for
hunting season. The notes are based on reports from
numerous calls we received recently at our
information desk.

Don't forget about the special
Youth Spring Turkey Hunt that will take place on
April 5, 2008 for youth age 15 and under. Youth
hunters between the ages of 12-15 must have
appropriate valid hunting licenses. Hunters
under the age of 12 are not required to have a
license, but must be accompanied by a licensed
adult.
See the Department's Web site or Hunting &
Trapping in Virginia Regulations and Information
digest for more information on Hunter Education
requirements. The youth turkey hunt is a great way
for an experienced hunter to introduce a youngster
to the great outdoors.

Check the UPCOMING EVENTS calendar for
numerous hunter training workshops around the state
sponsored by youth oriented organizations like NWTF
JAKES, 4-H Shooting Sports Clubs and others
dedicated to continuing our rich hunting heritage to
a new generation.

Is it a Gobbler or a Hen? The Beard is Not the
Best Clue!

Although commonly called Spring "Gobbler" Season,
the legal description allows that "bearded turkeys
only" may be harvested. This is because 10-20
percent of hens may grow beards and could be
mistaken for a bearded gobbler. Even though it is
legal to harvest a bearded hen, take a good look and
determine if your quarry is truly a gobbler. Hens
have a fuzzy, blue-gray head - a gobbler's head is
red and white. Gobblers will appear black in color
while hens will be more brownish due to the buff
color tips on the breast feathers. Although harder
to see at a distance, only gobblers have leg spurs.
Many sportsmen will pass up the hen with a beard to
help the population grow a little. Remember as you
take youngsters afield with you, always set a good
example for safety and ethics. Teaching these
hunting heritage traditions to the next generation
are the most important lessons we as sportsmen and
sportswomen can make.

No bobcat pelts may be tanned, mounted, sold,
traded or shipped out of state until sealed by an
agent of the VDGIF. All bobcat pelts must be sealed
by April 1, 2008. Please contact your nearest
VDGIF regional office to arrange sealing.

Otter:

The entire skinned carcass of all otters trapped
in counties west of the Blue Ridge where trapping is
permitted must be presented to an agent of the VDGIF
within 3 days of capture. For more information on
submitting otter carcasses contact your nearest
VDGIF regional office. No otter pelts may be
sold, traded or shipped out of state until sealed by
an agent of the VDGIF. All otter pelts must be
sealed by April 1, 2008. Please contact your nearest
VDGIF regional office to arrange sealing.

Habitat Improvement Tips

Forestry Department Offers Specialty Seedlings

It's tree planting time! If you want to improve
habitat on your property, the Virginia Department of
Forestry (VDOF) has a variety of native trees and
shrubs for reforestation projects on cutover and
idle land. Landowners may now purchase seed mixes,
shrubs and quality bare root tree seedlings in
specialty packets for wildlife habitat enhancement,
water shed protection, fall and spring colors, and
timber management. For product information, pricing
and ordering
go to VDOF's Web site.

Fishin' Report

Anglers throughout
Virginia and neighboring states want to know "how
are the fish bitin'?" To provide some answers, more
than 25 license agents, marinas, fishing guides and
bait shops have volunteered to serve as contacts for
information on recent fishing conditions for primary
rivers and lakes throughout the state. Sarah White,
outdoor writer and regular contributor to
Virginia Wildlife magazine, prepares this
Fishin' Report from interviews with these contacts
the week prior to publication of the Outdoor
Report.

The Fishin' Report
is only available as part of your free subscription
to the Outdoor Report.

The rivers and lakes featured in the
Fishin' Report
are listed by VDGIF Administrative Regions so you
can quickly locate the area in which you are most
interested. Consult the regional location map to
find the major river or lake you want to know about.

Want more
information on the lakes and rivers listed below?
Visit the Lakes
and
Rivers pages on the Department's Web site!

New regulations went into effect January 1, 2008
for blueback herring and alewives on the North
Carolina drainages in Virginia according to
VDGIF Tidewater Region Fisheries Biologist, Eric Brittle.
The new regulations are in effect on the North
Landing, Northwest, Nottoway, Blackwater (Chowan
Drainage), and Meherrin Rivers and Back and their
tributaries. For more information call (757)
465-6829, or email
eric.brittle@dgif.virginia.gov.

The Richmond
Fishing Expo in January turned out to be a great
opportunity to meet guides, fishing shop owners and
marina operators who signed up to send me these
additional river and lake reports. We welcome eight
new reporters this spring for Nottoway/Blackwater
Rivers Chickahominy Lake, Briery Creek Lake, Potomac
River, Occoquan River, Occoquan Reservoir, Burke
Lake and Lake Anna. They are a great addition to the
Fishin' Report and we appreciate all our
reporter's up-to-date information. There are now
over 25 river sections and lakes featured for your
convenience each edition. Over the next two months
we will add some feature information on each of
these reporters and the services they provide area
anglers.

Now go take a
kid fishing and catch some whoppers and even greater
memories!

Region 1 - Tidewater

Beaverdam Swamp:
Chuck Hyde says that the recent Big Bash Tournament
was a huge success, with Fred Seminario and Mike
Samuels of Hampton taking first place with 14.45 lbs
of bass. Second place went to Jason Carlton and
Dennis Mitchell of Gloucester landing 13.70 lbs
worth. Wes Zabdyr of Williamsburg won third place by
landing 13.45 lbs.

The crappie fishing is good, with minnows as the
preferred bait. The water is clear at 55 degrees.

Chickahominy
River: Charlie Brown of River's Rest reports
that the herring are running, but not many shad. A
few crappies have come in, but it's not a hot time
for them yet. Cats are going for fresh cut herring.
Stripers have not been coming in really big numbers,
but they are consistent. The water is clear and
warming.

Norfolk Lakes:
Drew Dixon of Dashell's Show Room tells us that the
shad have finally "shown up" and are hitting shad
darts. The rockfish are biting hard. Crappie are
attacking minnows. Bass are going for both crankbaits and live bait. Check your VDGIF Fishing
Regulations at www.dgif.virginia.gov for the
regulations in your area. The water is clear and 58
degrees.

Little Creek:
Walter Elliot reports that largemouth are attacking
jigs and rattle traps in shallow waters. Paul Linton
of Lanexa came in with two largemouth at 5.14 lbs
and 7.3 lbs on a jig. Ron Jones of Sandston got a 7
pounder on a Rattle Trap. Crappie are responding
"decent" to small minnows in 5 to 10 feet of water.
Chain pickerel have been giving lucky anglers a good
fight when caught on spinnerbaits and large minnows.
Hal Hampton of Richmond landed a 14 inch yellow
perch on a minnow. The water is stained and in the
50s. The water level is 12 inches below full pool.

North Landing
River and Back Bay: Dewey Mullins of West Neck
Marina reports that several citation-sized white
perch had been brought to boat, with some over 16
lbs. Perch seem to like spinner baits and beetle
spins. Crappie are doing well when tempted with
small minnows. Cat angling is slow, but the fish are
there to be had. The water is clear and in the high
50s and low 60s. Note the new regulations for anadromous fish for this river system featured
above.

Nottoway River:
Jeff Turner tells us that small stripers are to be
had in good quantities. They are really going for
large stick crankbaits. Shad have also showed up and
are biting shad spoons and darts. As the water
temperature rises, the shad population should also
rise. The water is clear and clear and 54 degrees.
The river is flowing fast. Note the new regulations
for anadromous fish for this river system featured
above.

Region 2 - Southside

Kerr Reservoir:
Bobby Witlow of Bob Cat's Lake Country Store reports
that local anglers are landing crappie with small
minnows and jigs. Bass are going for spinners, crankbaits and jigs. Catfish are doing really well
with cut bait and live shad. The water is clear and
warming.

Smith Mountain
Lake: Mike Snead reports that stripers are going
for jigging spoons and flukes in deep water during
daylight hours. Dawn and twilight hours find them in
shallower waters. Crappie are responding well to
small minnows near deep structures. Bass fishing in
the lake is "mixed" - some do very well, some strike
out. Pig and jig lures seem to be effective. In
deeper water, try football jigs, jigging spoons,
swim jigs, and lipless crankbaits. A citation muskie,
over 40 inches, was brought in by Jesse Saunders.
Macky May landed a 26 lb 9 oz striper. Trout fishing
is good in stocked areas, with Popeye hair jigs
being very productive. The water is clear and 50
degrees. For a more detailed report, go to
http://www.virginiaoutdoorsman.com.

Philpott Lake:
Shawn Perdue of Franklin Outdoors says that crappie
are hitting small minnows. Walleye are going live
baits and crankbaits. Stripers are active in the
evenings, when they attack top water lures,
especially Redfins, Thundersticks and Giant
Jitterbugs in solid black. The water is 54 degrees
and clear.

Region 3 - Southwest

Claytor Lake:
At Rock House Marina the big story is the stripers.
They are weighing in at 19 - 24 lbs. Crappie are
also doing well. The water is clear and warming

Lower New River:
John Zienius of Big Z's reports that smallmouth bass
are going for little crankbaits and jerkbaits: a
recent smallmouth tournament in the river recorded
good numbers. Crappie action is not "hot" yet, but
should be soon. Bass anglers are landing muskies by
accident, so if you're going for the big muskie, try
some big bass lures. All in all, John says that
fishing is "very good." The river is stained and
warming.

New River and
Claytor Lake: Victor Billings of Sportsman's
Supply says that stripers are going for live bait
and Cotton Cordell plugs in rainbow and black
colors. Bucktails are also attracting stripers.
Smallmouth are attacking jigs, minnows and
crankbaits. Crappie and walleye fishing is "slow".
Largemouth are going wild for ET lures and soft
plastics. Muskie are warming up; while the walleyes
are slowing down. The water is clear and 42 - 43
degrees.

Region 4 - Mountain and
Shenandoah Valley

Lake Moomaw:
Larry Andrews of the Bait Place called in that
smallmouths are spawning and going for minnows.
Crappie fishing is picking up, minnows, silver
buddies and crappie jigs are a good bet. Trout
fishing is still slow. Yellow perch are picking up
as they go for minnows. The water is dark green, 44
degrees and at full pond.

North Fork of
the Shenandoah: Harry Murray reports that the
smallmouth streams in both the North and South forks
of the river are at full level. The best flies to
use are Murray's Heavy Hellgrammite sizes 4 and 6,
and Murray's Road Kill Nymph size 6, and Chub size
8. The water in these streams is slightly stained
and 52 degrees.

The trout streams
in the valley are at a good water level and "many
nice trout" are there to be had. These fish will go
for small streamers and nymphs. The water is stained
and 42 degrees.

The mountain trout
streams are finally fishable again! The water level
is fairly high and it is best to approach by coming
into the streams from the top of the mountain. Good
dry flies to use are Mr. Rapdan sizes 14 - 16, and
Royal Wulff size 14. The water is clear and 42
degrees. Harry reminded me that he has a Web site
that can be found at
www.murraysflyshop.com that is upgraded every
Tuesday and Friday.

Region 5 - Northern
Piedmont

James, Fall
Line: Mike Ostrander reports that he has been
landing blue cats over 5 lbs on cut shad. Shad
fishing is picking up and gold and silver spoons and
shad darts are top baits. Fly fishermen are also
successful using sinking line and chartruse flies.
The water is stained and in the mind 50's.

James, Fall
Line: Russ Cress tells me that hickory shad are
doing well on chartreuse flies. He also says that
the water is still too cold to be really active. The
water is stained and 53 degrees.

Lake Anna:
C.C. McCotter tells us that largemouth fishing
should be picking up. Try fishing shallow with
jerkbaits and swimbaits. Small crankbaits should
also be effective. Remember, where the herring and
shad are, the bass will be too. Stripers are going
to be most plentiful at low light hours. At these
times, use swimbaits and suspending jerkbaits.
Crappie should be spawning and will attack small
minnows. The water is clear and warming.

Scott Hammer, also
on Lake Anna, reports that bass will be "holding on
main and secondary points in the main lake". They
will go into shallow areas as the water warms up in
search of bait fish. Crappie are hanging out around
deep structures like bridge pilings and brush. Small
minnows and grubs are effective. Stripers are
becoming more active above the dam. Dike 3 is a good
place to start, especially when the plant is
pumping. In open water, use live bait. In creeks and
creek mouths try flukes. In general your best lures
on the lake will be suspending jerkbaits in
blue/chrome and black/chrome, Carolina rigged
plastics (lizards) and jigs. When using plastics,
stick with natural colors. The water is somewhat
stained and 45 to 50 degrees.

Potomac Area -
Brought to us by Charlie Taylor

D.C. Area:
With warm weather comes the spawning of the bass,
they aren't spawning just yet, but look out as
weather continues to warm up. Bass action is lively,
with plastic grubs, silver buddies, jig & pig, and
rattling crankbaits. White perch are starting to hit
well. Channel cats are hugging the bottom, going for
their usual baits. Remember, striper and shad season
is closed, so the fish must be released. The water
is clear and warming.

Below Woodrow
Wilson Bridge: Largemouths are hitting well on a
variety of things: live bait, silver buddies, worms
and plastic grubs. These should be used during the
early and middle parts of the day. When things get
warmer small, shallow running crankbaits are a
better bet. Most of these fish can be found in the
shallows. It's also good to look for vegetation. The
local perch are hanging out in lower creeks and are
hitting small twister tail grubs and spinners. Some
pickerel have been seen in Nanjemoy Creek. Cats are
active in creek channels, feasting on herring and
white perch. Bear in mind that a 15 inch minimum
size limit is in effect in the Potomac and its
tributaries until June 15th. The water is clear and
warming.

Upper River:
A high, muddy river can be hard to fish, but some
smallmouth are being landed on tiny crankbaits. Try
the vegetation beds along the banks. Cats are
cooperating by attacking night crawlers, cut bait,
clam snouts (Yum!), and bloodworms. Carp are going
crazy, and going for almost anything. A few white
suckers have been brought in. The river is muddy and
warming.

Occoquan River:
The herring have arrived, and more are on their way.
Bass have gone to deeper waters, but should be
returning to the shallows soon. Crappie can be had
on the boat docks, flooded brush, or suspended in
deeper water. To go for shad, use tiny shad darts.
According to Charlie "don't be surprised at what you
catch. Just about any fish in the river will take
these lures." White perch can be tempted by bottom
rigs with night crawlers, live minnows, tiny Hopkins
spoons, or very small grubs. Largemouth are in the
shallows, going for slow rolled spinnerbaits, small
shad colored crankbaits and small plastics. Channel
cats are attacking clams snouts and cut herring. The
water is clear and warming.

Occoquan
Reservoir: The main lake coves are the best
place to go for bass; they seem to like jig & pig,
and slow rolled spinnerbaits. The males are in the
shallow coves, while the females are in a little
deeper water. Crappie are hiding in the brush, going
for minnows and tiny jigs. Cats are fair, but will
get better as water warms. The water is clear and
warming.

Burke Lake:
Bass angling is fair in the lake. Some good ones
have been landed with crankbaits, plastic lures and
buzzbaits, in the Northern side of the lake's
shallow coves. Some muskies have been brought to
boat on large spinners. A few small crappie have
been taken. The water is clear and warming.

Get your kids hooked on fishing!

Got Tips?
Got Tricks?
Adventure Stories?
The one that got away?
The one that didn't?

Virginia Conservation Police
Notebook

To increase awareness
of the activities of our dedicated
Conservation Police Officers, previously
called game wardens, the "Virginia
Conservation Police Notebook" provides
an overview of the variety of activities
encountered by our officers who protect
natural resources and people pursuing
outdoor recreation in the fields, woods and
waters of Virginia.

Region 5 - Northern Piedmont

Landowner illegally setting
traps causes injury. On December 28,
Conservation Police Officer Isaac Boulanger received
a call from Richmond Dispatch in reference to an
illegally set trap in Caroline County. Officer
Boulanger made contact with the complainant, who
advised that he had stepped in a trap that did not
have any information attached to it. The following
day, Officer Boulanger and Sgt. Paul Atkins searched
the area where the complainant had stepped in the
trap. Officer Boulanger and Sgt. Atkins found the
trap that the complainant had stepped in and
immediately realized that the trap was actually a
330 body gripping trap that by regulation was
required to be completely submerged in water.
Several more 330 body gripping traps were located on
the property. Two additional 330's were located set
on dry land several yards from a small creek and one
330 was set at the edge of a swampy area above
water. Officer Boulanger and Sgt. Atkins also found
a beaver carcass next to one of the traps as well as
a beaver skull at another location. Officer
Boulanger and Sgt. Atkins then decided to set up
surveillance on one of the trap sites in an attempt
to catch the "trapper" if and when he came to check
his traps. The surveillance at the trap site
continued for more than a month and it quickly
became apparent that the suspect was not checking
the traps on a daily basis. Officer Boulanger
decided to interview the landowner who was the main
suspect in the case. Officer Boulanger obtained a
confession from the landowner who claimed that he
did not know the traps could not be set on land and
that he had to remove the animals he caught. Officer
Boulanger obtained 8 magistrate summonses for the
landowner for failing to check his traps daily (4
traps), and for setting a trap where it would be
likely to injure persons, dogs, stock, or fowl (4
traps). For more information contact Lt. John Cobb
(540) 899-4169.

VDGIF Furbearer Biologist, Mike Fies, advises
"Nuisance wildlife laws and regulations are
complex. Most of the complexity is due to the
different Code [of Virginia] Sections that
pertain to various wildlife situations.
Landowners are permitted to trap and shoot some
species of nuisance wildlife at any time.
However, you should check with the VDGIF to make
sure you are complying with all laws and
regulations before taking action".

Master Hunter
Education Instructor and Certified Trapping
Instructor, Ed Crebbs notes that, "Trapping
should only be done by properly trained,
experienced and licensed trappers. The landowner
in this case violated numerous safety
regulations by setting traps improperly and
causing injury. The landowner also breached
ethical standards by using a water drowning trap
on dry land and most notably did not check traps
daily. Trappers provide a valuable service by
removing nuisance animals and helping manage
populations of certain wildlife species."

Landowners experiencing nuisance wildlife
problems should be aware that it is illegal to
capture and relocate most nuisance animals.
There are some exceptions, but usually you are
simply moving your problem to someone else. A
list of professional trappers who handle
nuisance animals is available on the VDGIF Web
site. For more information on proper trapping
techniques and training opportunities visit the
Virginia Trappers Association Web site
www.virginiatrappers.org.

Region 1 - Tidewater

Drugs, alcohol and revoked
license add up to jail and fines... During
the 2007 archery season, CPO Frank Spuchesi received
information from the King George County Sheriff's
Department about a baited ground blind behind a
residence. The Sheriff's Department had recently
served a search warrant at the residence for
cultivating marijuana in the home. Trophy class deer
antlers were also found during the search. CPO
Spuchesi had arrested the home owner several years
earlier for spotlighting and shooting a decoy deer
with a .22 cal. rifle. The suspect's hunting
privileges were revoked by the court from that
arrest until February of 2008. CPO Spuchesi located
a ground blind and found the immediate area to be
baited with a feeder filled with corn, apples and a
mineral block. On the evening of October 27, 2007,
Spuchesi entered the property, found the owner
inside the baited blind and in possession of a
loaded .22 cal rifle. The suspect had recently
consumed a beer and smoked marijuana. Found in the
blind were a bottle of doe in heat scent lure, an
empty beer can, a plastic baggie containing
marijuana with a lighter and smoking device. The
suspect was charged with hunting deer during the
closed season, hunting deer with a rifle less than
.23 cal., hunting in a baited area, hunting while
revoked, hunting under the influence and possession
of marijuana. It was also determined that the
suspect had purchased hunting licenses during the
past two hunting seasons. This past week the
defendant plead no contest to all his game violation
charges and the possession of marijuana. He received
$6,000 in fines ($1,000 suspended), one year in jail
(all but ten days suspended), 25 years revocation of
hunting privileges and had to forfeit the .22 rifle.
For more information contact Lt. Ken Conger (804)
829-6580.

Region 2 - Southside

Determined investigation and
interstate cooperation lead to arrest in PWC
accident. Conservation Police Officer Mark
VanDyke recently completed a six month long
investigation that resulted in charges brought
against two suspects involved in a boating accident
that occurred on Lake Gaston back on September 3,
2007. The case involved two individuals who were
illegally operating a personal watercraft (PWC) that
was rented out of North Carolina (NC). The two men
allegedly struck another PWC from behind, knocking
the victim into the water and causing damage to the
victim's PWC. The victim, who amazingly did not
suffer major injury, attempted to get the two men's
information and called authorities. The two suspects
then became confrontational with the victim and made
obscene gestures before driving from the scene.
Officer VanDyke began his investigation with only a
NC boat number that came back to a NC rental
business. Once Officer VanDyke found out that the
suspects who operating the PWC turned out not to be
the individuals who actually rented the PWC, this
created a considerable investigatory challenge.
However, through hard work, determination, and good
investigative skills, Officer VanDyke was able to
track down the suspects, both of whom have extensive
criminal histories and live in the Washington DC
area. Warrants have been obtained for the suspect
operator for "Reckless Operation" and "failing to
stop and render assistance" at the scene of a
motorboat crash. Warrants for failing to stop and
render assistance have also been obtained for the
suspected passenger. Captain Ron Henry acknowledged
the valuable assistance provided to VDGIF by the
North Carolina Fish and Wildlife Law Division and
the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department.
Solving this tough case is a great example of
intra-state and inter-state cooperation. For more
information contact Lt. Tony Fisher (434) 525-7522.

Region 4 - Mountain and Shenandoah Valley

While conducting a foot patrol on
the last day of the 2006-07 deer season, Master
Conservation Police Officer Carl Martin found 35
deer heads and other parts dumped in a wooded area
in Frederick County. He decided to work the area the
following hunting season. On November 27, 2007,
Officer Martin began surveillance of the area where
the deer parts were being dumped. After three hours,
Officer Martin saw a subject driving a garden
tractor into the wooded area; a cart behind the
tractor contained two large containers of deer
parts. After the individual dumped the first
container, Martin exited his area of concealment and
approached the suspect. This individual had been
processing deer for friends. Martin counted 14 deer
heads in the area, and he began to gather
information. Through the course of the
investigation, 17 people were interviewed. With the
assistance of Matt Knox, Deer Project Leader for the
Wildlife Division, telephone confirmation numbers
were verified and hunting license numbers were
checked against the telephone checking system. The
investigation concluded with six people being
charged with twelve violations including hunting
without a license, hunting without a deer, bear,
turkey license, failure to notch license, failure to
check deer, and illegal possession. For more
information contact Lt. Kevin Clarke (540) 248-9360.

If you suspect or
witness a violation, report it to the Wildlife
Crimeline at 1-800-237-5712.

Don't let the
actions of a few outlaws tarnish the reputation of
Virginia's sportsmen!

In Case You Missed It...

Editor's note:
With numerous new subscribers each issue, we realize
that some of the seasonal features are important and
timely enough to bear repeating. So readers can
easily review these seasonal items, we have retained
the headlines and information links in this section "In case you missed it..."

We hope you enjoy the new,
electronic Outdoor Report and invite you to share this
information with your friends and colleagues.
Simply visit the
Department's Web site and click on the Outdoor Report
link to
subscribe. New editions are sent directly to your email
address the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. Stay informed on issues and
opportunities about Virginia's outdoors!

In
upcoming editions of the
Outdoor Report, look for:

Spring Gobbler Forecast

Getting Your Boat
Water-Ready

Creating a Butterfly
Garden

BE WILD,
VIRGINIA!

Whip-Poor-Will(Caprimulgus vociferous)by Spike Knuth

The whip-poor-will is a bird that many people can
identify by its call, but have probably never seen. One
reason is that it is active only at night. Once in
awhile, late at night, or early in the morning before
sunrise, you might flush one from some small side road
through woodlands, seeing its eyes glowing red in your
headlights. If you've spent a night in a cabin in the
woods, or live near undisturbed woodlands, you've heard
them call. A pleasant-sounding call at first, but its
incessant calling can become annoying! Tape recordings
have revealed that they may repeat their calls
consistently more than 1,000 times

The whip-poor-will's scientific name is "cave mouth
with a strong voice," a reference to its large mouth and
loud calling. It is a member of the goatsucker family,
which includes the Chuck-wills-widow, the call of which
starts with a "chuck," and the nighthawk, a more pointed
wing cousin of the cities. Nightjar is another of its
family names.

Whip-poor-wills are 9-1/2 to 10-1/2 inches long. They
are dressed in variegated browns, buffs and blacks,
providing them with natural camouflage, making them
almost invisible. Their wings are large and rounded,
they have a rounded tail, and a large mouth surrounded
by stiff bristles which helps them catch and hold winged
insects. Moths, beetles, and mosquitoes are their main
foods. They prefer undisturbed woods and will come to
clearings in the woods, or adjacent fields to call. This
is where it nests, usually under dense vegetative cover.
Two eggs are laid in the leaves. If an intruder happens
upon the nest, the female will feign an injured wing and
try to lure the interloper away.

Their numbers have diminished as our subdivisions
have moved outward into wooded areas. Whip-poor-wills
usually leave Virginia by early October and winter along
the South Atlantic Coast from the Carolinas to Florida
and along the Gulf Coast.

·
· ·

This section of each issue of the Outdoor Report features one of the 925 animals that have
been identified in Virginia's Wildlife Action Plan whose
existence is at risk.

Think you can't make a difference?
You can! Be wild and work with your local
officials and in your local communities to conserve
Virginia's wildlife resources. Find out
how you can help
and join our team!

The artwork used to enhance this publication is
produced by award-winning Virginia artist Carl "Spike"
Knuth. He is currently retired from VDGIF and continues
to be active in numerous activities contributing to
wildlife conservation, information and education through
his artwork and writing. We appreciate his continued
service and support through his exceptional talent for
both illustrations and writing. Spike's artwork can be
seen at the Jager Gallery, 6939 Lakeside Avenue, in
Richmond.

For persons with disabilities: a calendar
of hunting, fishing, and skill-building events, as well as areas
designed for access to persons with disabilities can be found on
the Department's online
events calendar,
accessible fishing areas page, as well as the
VANWTF site.

FOR AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, contact the
local conservation police officer immediately through the local
sheriff's office or police department.

Don't allow the actions of a few to tarnish the
reputation of Virginia's sportsmen and sportswomen!

SUBSCRIBE TO
VIRGINIA WILDLIFE MAGAZINE!

If you
would like to become a regular subscriber to Virginia
Wildlife magazine, visit the
Department's Web site, call 1-800-710-9369, or mail a check payable to
"Treasurer of Virginia" and send it to Virginia Wildlife
Magazine, P.O. Box 11104, Richmond, VA 23230-1104. A one-year
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Wildlife magazine be your guide to the best in hunting,
fishing, boating and wildlife information.

The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries shall afford to all persons an equal
access to Department Programs and facilities without regard to race, color,
religion, national origin, disability, sex or age. If you believe that you have
been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility, please write
to: The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 4010 West Broad
Street, P.O. Box 11104, Richmond, VA 23230-1104.